Hard to Find by Sinesipo Jojo (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes
Hard to Find by Sinesipo Jojo
About the poem and poet
Educational Context: This poem emerged from an academic creative writing workshop, which influenced its exploration of the writing process itself and the challenges of finding the right words for expression.
Sinesipo Jojo wrote this poem during her final year of studying psychology while attending a creative writing workshop at Nelson Mandela University. The workshop focused on writing processes and practical methods, which influenced her exploration of the difficulty in finding the right words to express emotions and thoughts.
Central theme
The main theme of "Hard to Find" centres on the challenge of locating the right words to express one's feelings. The poem explores how words can be elusive (difficult to find or catch) when we need them most, particularly when experiencing strong emotions or trying to communicate something important from the heart.
Analysis of the title
The title "Hard to Find" immediately establishes the poem's central concern. It suggests something that is:
- Difficult to locate or access
- Hiding or avoiding the speaker
- Creating a sense of mystery or longing
- Elusive and just out of reach
The title creates an expectation that we will read about struggle and difficulty, setting a somewhat serious or contemplative mood from the beginning.
Key literary devices and techniques
Simile and metaphor
The poem uses comparison techniques effectively:
Literary Device Examples:
Simile: Words are compared to things that "fly out like nobody's business" - this shows how quickly and easily words escape when we are provoked or emotional
Metaphor: Words are compared to a bed that can "fly out" - this demonstrates how words can easily escape when needed
Extended personification
The poem gives words human characteristics throughout:
- Words are described as having the ability to hide away or escape
- They can choose when to be present or absent
- Words are portrayed as playing games with the speaker
- They have a "will of their own" and can decide when to appear
This extended personification emphasises how words can feel beyond our control, especially during emotional moments.
Oxymoron and contradiction
The poem uses contradictory language to show the complex relationship between speaker and words. Words are described as playing a "twisted game," which suggests something that is both a game (usually pleasant) but twisted (unpleasant or difficult).
Mood and atmosphere
The poem maintains a melancholic (sad and thoughtful) and sombre (serious and sad) mood throughout. This is created through:
- The image of a heart looking "sadly" through a glass window
- References to a "cloudy lifetime" - comparing life to a dark, gloomy day
- The overall sense of struggle and frustration in finding expression
The glass window imagery suggests a barrier between the speaker's inner feelings and their ability to express them outwardly.
Key imagery and symbolism
Weather imagery
- Raindrops sliding gently down the window - represents the passage of time and the speaker's emotional state
- Cloudy lifetime - symbolises a dark or difficult period in the speaker's life, suggesting ongoing challenges
Heart imagery
The heart looking through a glass window symbolises:
- The desire for clarity and understanding
- A barrier between inner feelings and outer expression
- Searching for answers or the right words
- Longing to communicate effectively
Game imagery
Words playing a "twisted game" suggests that:
- Communication can be unreliable
- Words are not always helpful when most needed
- The relationship between speaker and language is complex and sometimes frustrating
Major themes explored
Difficulty of emotional expression
The poem explores how challenging it can be to find appropriate words when experiencing strong emotions. When the heart "feels" something strongly, words become particularly hard to locate and use effectively.
Communication barriers
The speaker struggles with a fundamental communication challenge - having important things to express but lacking the linguistic tools to do so effectively. This creates frustration and a sense of isolation.
Hope versus despair
Despite the overall melancholic tone, the poem introduces an element of hope. The speaker expresses optimism that "one day" the needed words will be found and available for use. This contrast between current struggle and future possibility adds depth to the poem's emotional landscape.
The relationship between emotion and language
The poem suggests that words and emotions are interconnected, with the speaker's heart feelings creating a "sense of lonely or sadness" as it searches for appropriate expression.
Important quotes and analysis
Key Quote Analysis:
"Words are everywhere" - This establishes the paradox central to the poem: despite words being abundant and available daily, they become elusive when most needed.
"They fly out like nobody's business" - This simile shows how words escape quickly and uncontrollably, especially when we are emotional or provoked.
"My heart looks sadly through the glass window" - This personification creates a powerful image of longing and barrier between inner feeling and outer expression.
Exam tips
Critical Exam Strategies:
- When discussing themes, always provide evidence from the poem to support your points
- Reference specific lines from the poem to substantiate your analysis
- Remember that this poem focuses on the relationship between emotion and language
- Consider how the poet uses extended personification to develop the central theme
- Look for contrasts and contradictions in the poem (such as the hope versus despair elements)
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The central theme is the difficulty of finding words to express feelings, particularly when emotions are strong
- Extended personification gives words human characteristics throughout the poem, showing them as elusive and sometimes unhelpful
- The mood is melancholic and sombre, created through imagery of sadness, barriers, and cloudy weather
- Key symbols include the heart looking through glass (desire for clarity) and raindrops (passage of time/emotional state)
- Despite the struggle, the poem ends with hope that the right words will eventually be found